“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” –Ephesians 4:14

In this age of 24/7 Christian television, constant Tweets on Twitter, Facebook posts and books by the thousands from hundreds of different authors, it’s easy to see that the dawn of Christian overload has risen. In this age of instant communication where anyone with a particular message that can access the internet, or build a website, or even go on Christian Television, can reach thousands, possibly millions with their message, even if that message is false.

Not every preacher is a false preacher, or teacher, just like not every person you meet is a criminal. When we evaluate those who are what the word calls “false teachers”, there needs to be a qualifier in that we have a strict guide to go by when we begin to use discernment to judge the fruit of someone that may, or may not, be a false teacher. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 when revealing the measuring stick of who is, or should be, considered a false teacher “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?“. We judge every preacher or teacher by their fruit, in other words, what are they preaching? And does it line up with the word?

Here is one important thing to keep in mind, if someone is preaching Christ and him crucified, if they are preaching the cross, meaning, they preach that salvation comes by faith by the finished work of Christ on the cross as the only way, that individual most likely than not is preaching a good gospel message. But how can we tell?

Paul gave us two things to consider when evaluating a true preacher of the gospel and a false one – fruit. In Galatians 5:19-21, the apostle says that the fruit of the flesh is, “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

These things are fruits of the flesh, they are symptoms of a deeper issue at heart, which is sin. When a preacher or teacher begins to exhibit certain behaviors, when they begin to stray from the truth and begin to replace the gospel message, the central message (which is Christ and him crucified) then that man or woman has left proper teaching and has allowed another spirit to influence their thinking. Paul said in Galatians 1:8 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

The traits of a false teacher (or preacher) are:

1. They use a form of bait and switch; they lure people in with sound Bible doctrine, but then, after a period of time, they begin to teach things counter to the word.

2. Their messages become woven with philosophy, new age concepts which have roots in other religions.

3. They begin to promote books or speakers who have a history of alternative ideas that teach more than one way to heaven.

4. The emphasis on money becomes the center message and not the salvation message.

5. They align themselves with cultural celebrities who hold universalist views and not to the gospel.

6. They begin to openly question the diety of Jesus Christ as both man and God.

7. They renounce the scriptural view of Hell.

8. They do not accept 100% of the word of God to be correct or infallible.

9. They teach things from an intellectual position and not from the Bible.

10. They accept other religions.

11. They are open to homosexuality.

12. They deny that Christ is the only way, nor do they accept salvation by faith alone.

13. They reject the message of the cross.

14. They reject absolute truth.

15. They teach the worship of angels.

16. The teaching of sin is rejected.

17. There is no belief in repentance.

18. They begin to question the virgin birth.

19. They reject that man is a sinner and the doctrine of original sin.

20. They place a greater emphasis on works, community service, social justice over witnessing or preaching the word.

Occasionally, Paul warned against specific false teachers. “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words” (Phil. 4:14,15).

In Revelation, Christ rebuked the church in Pergamos for their indifference toward the false teachers in their midst: “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam . . . you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Rev. 2:14,15).

When we see any of these types of signs from someone who is supposedly proclaiming the gospel, but their teachings begin to fall into these areas, then that individual could very well be a false teacher. The gift of discernment should be strongly sought after and applied.

But not every person who might, at times, teach or preach something which is non-essential to the salvation plan, is a heretic. Nor is someone who is called of God that might fall into error, disqualified from ministry and avoided. Again, there are in fact differences when it comes to certain teachings which might not in general, line up with sound doctrine, but that alone does not make them false, it simply means they have given into error, and in due season, they may come out of that teaching or doctrine and into the truth, but it by no means makes them false. That is what I call the human factor.

2 Peter 2:1, Peter makes the determining response on what is simple human error and what is damnable heresy, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

Peter makes the distinction that it is damnable heresies, which is anything which gives another way to God other than the cross, or, someone who proclaims someone who claims Christ did not come in the flesh – that person is antichrist. (1John 2:22)

There is no question we are living in that time where false teachers, false preachers, false prophets are on the rise and flooding the church world today. But we must take into equation that not everyone we might disagree with, or we might have another point of view, or someone who might preach in a particular way or operate in the gifts a certain way is false. Human nature is human nature, and there are times that we must put our differences aside and learn to trust the Lord in all matters when it comes to whose are his and whose are not his.

But there is another trait we can look to, and that is the other fruit of one who is in fact obedient to the Father – the fruit of the spirit. It has been said, Satan can imitate the gifts, but he cannot imitate the fruit of the spirit, and they are found in Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.“

God is sowing the wheat with the tares in this last hour, and it is vital that the believer judge accordingly to any and all who come in the name of Christ, for, as I have shown, not all are of him, nor were they sent by him, for they were sent from another, whose name is Satan.

Christopher

christopher152@gmail.com

Share this:

Like this:

Related

I enjoy reading your prophecy updates but I have a question. What do the names that are tagged mean with each post? When I click on them, it just takes me to other posts. For instance, this post tags Benny Hinn, Paula White, Joel Osteen, etc. who I think are all false teachers but does it mean all the names are tagged for that purpose? I really like Perry Stone, although he gets silly at times, but I would like to have your take on him if he is included in this article on false teachers. Thank you!

When I tag certain names, it’s actually for web presence. When someone does an online search for “Perry Stone” they will pull up many things and one of which will be this article. The tags are not necessarily any indication someone is false or not, it’s just for web search engines. Hope that helps.

Based on your response, why would you tag someone in your blog if you don’t believe them to be false? So basically, you’re saying, you believe these people to be false teachers without specifically call them out as such? Why else would you tag them here? I have personally met Perry Stone. He and his ministry are on the up and up. They are the real deal.

Not at all. I’ve met Perry MANY times, has nothing to do with someone being false. A “tag” is simply for internet search engines (spiders), it has NOTHING to do with someone being false. Again, it’s about search engine content.

On the hell thing, Dave Hunt does not believe in a literal burning hell which tortures people forever. He believes there is a misinterpretation . I do to. Plus I don’t believe God tortures. He annihilates or separates. The burning hell thing is perverse and came in via pagan religions and the catholic church to control by fear. Read what the word hell and hades meant in the old testament. Some of the references to fire mean judgment. ajc